The National Bank of Ukraine set a new record for currency sales to support the hryvnia.

From December 23 to 27, 2024, the National Bank of Ukraine sold a record $1.625 billion on the interbank foreign exchange market, marking the highest volume since the beginning of the year. This information was published on the official NBU website.

Key Indicators:

• In December, the volume of currency sales reached its peak value for the entire period since the beginning of 2022.
• During this period, the NBU did not make any currency purchases.

As of Monday, December 30, the official exchange rate of the hryvnia to the dollar is set at 41.9403 UAH/$, which is higher than the figure from Friday, December 27 (41.8447 UAH/$). However, on December 24, a new historical low for the hryvnia was recorded at 41.9910 UAH/$.

2024 Year-End Results:

• Throughout the year, the NBU sold $34.57 billion, significantly exceeding the figures for 2022 ($26.38 billion) and 2023 ($28.83 billion).
• Currency purchases amounted to only $126 million, indicating a negative balance of currency operations.

Comparison with Previous Periods:

• The week prior, from December 16 to 20, $1.417 billion was sold, which at that time was the largest sales volume for the year.
• In the second half of 2024, the pace of currency sales sharply increased, reaching a peak in December.

These actions indicate significant pressure on the hryvnia, driven by economic and geopolitical factors, as well as an increase in demand for foreign currency. The use of reserves remains a key tool for stabilizing the exchange rate; however, this approach requires caution to maintain macroeconomic stability.